Eric Stoddard can still imagine floating in a YMCA pool in Laconia, N.H. “I remember so vividly, getting a life jacket on and being in the pool with my mom,’’ Stoddard said. “I loved the water!’’
The YMCA remained a center of life throughout his childhood, the place where he made friends and learned gymnastics, basketball, soccer and other sports. As an adult, the Y beckoned him back.
“I have great memories growing up at the Y,’’ said Stoddard, who was recently promoted to associate director of the South Mountain YMCA. Before that, Stoddard served nearly two years as senior program director of the 1,200-member Y serving Maplewood and South Orange.
Stoddard excelled at athletics throughout his life, playing varsity high school football and basketball beginning in his freshman year in Queensbury, N.Y. and winning a state championship in track & field during his junior year. He preferred basketball to football, but he said he was a better football player – “I just hated getting hit!’’ he quipped.
He earned a track & field scholarship to St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y. but at the end of his junior year in 2003, the university announced it would disband its track team, a crushing disappointment for Stoddard.
When he went home for the summer break, his parents handed him a newspaper article about the men’s national bobsled team. At first dismissive of the idea, Stoddard called the Olympic training center in Lake Placid, N.Y. and spoke to the head coach.
Stoddard was too late. The coach had scouted 25 finalists from across the country and invited them to compete in a weeklong tryout.
But Stoddard kept talking and before he hung up, he’d persuaded the coach to make him the 26th contestant. Stoddard didn’t disappoint: He outperformed the other athletes and won a spot on the national bobsled team in 2003. He traveled the world and in 2004, won the national championship in the two-man competition as the youngest bobsled athlete on the world cup circuit.
Stoddard left the sport in 2005 to return to St. John’s University to complete his bachelor’s degree in education and earn a master’s in school counseling in 2007. Stoddard was hired as program director at the After-School All-Stars, a nonprofit for at-risk youth founded by actor and athlete Arnold Schwarzenegger.
But Stoddard longed to work for the YMCA, a place that cultivated his love for sports. “I believe in the YMCA mission and I felt my background was a good fit,’’ he said. Stoddard said the dedicated staff works as a cohesive team to provide programs “that meet members’ needs and exceed their expectations.’’
While senior program director, Stoddard realigned the after-school care program to group children by age so sports and other activities could be geared to their developmentally appropriate skill levels. Childcare for school vacation days was also expanded to include specialized offerings, including a drama program and golf lessons.
Stoddard, 33, said he would oversee plans to increase programming to expand capacity
“so we can serve more families in the community.’’
Each day, he commutes to Maplewood from Jersey City with his 2-year-old son, Wyatt, who attends the Y’s Early Childhood Learning Center. “Wyatt loves the daycare!’’ Stoddard said. Stoddard and his wife, Julia, are expecting a second child in July.
